One

New York City.

"Women take too long to get ready."

"Stop complaining, Castle."

"I'm telling you, we're gonna miss the flight."

"We're not gonna miss the flight. You're lucky I let you come with me, so shut it."

"Okay, okay. Here, I'll take your bag."

Beckett giggled. "What am I, a little girl?"

"We've gotta run to check in. Will you be able to do it on those five inch heels?"

"Are you kidding me?"

Katherine Beckett and Richard Castle burst into John F. Kennedy airport holding hands, each carrying a small suitcase, and their shoes making a huge noise on the ground.

"Where's our check-in booth?"

"American Airlines… I see it!" Castle pulled Beckett by the hand, obligating her to run with him. They finally got to the check-in counter breathing hard, with sweat running down their foreheads. They looked at each other's scarlet-skinned face and had no choice but to start laughing.

"I told you I'd be able to do it!" Beckett said, in between puffs.

"I know. I never doubted you for real. I was just teasing."

"You are such a tease, Richard Castle."

"If I may interrupt," the woman in the counter showed them a luggage tag. "Are you folks headed to Washington?"

"Yes, exactly." Beckett answered.

"Can I see your tickets please?"

Washington, DC

"So, who is the Kathleen person?"

"Katherine, Bones, her name is Kath-REEN." Booth said, like it was the thousandth time.

"And you used to be involved?"

"No! No way, Bones!" Booth giggled. "Becks was like a sister to me."

"If her name is Kath-REEN," Brennan said, pronouncing the last syllable strongly, and making Booth lose hope that she'll ever say Beckett's name right. "Then, why do you call her Becks?"

"Her name is Katherine Beckett."

"Oh! The social prerogative to use mnemonic devices such as shortening to imply a close relationship with an individual!"

"Yeah, that's her nickname."

"And is she the only one coming?"

"No, she's bringing some new partner of hers. I don't even know who it is. But, apparently, he's not even a cop."

"Well, I'm not a cop either and our partnership works out fine."

"But, apparently, he's a mystery writer."

"I'm a mystery writer."

"Let's wait until we meet him, okay, Bones?"

Airplane over Connecticut

"So, how did you meet this Booth person?"

"He was in the force when I started. He was Detective Booth when I was Officer Beckett. He was my best friend for many years."

"And why did he come to DC?"

"Well, in 2003, some government guys came to the NYPD headquarters to pick our best guys to send to Iraq."

"And Booth got picked?"

"Yeah. I was just about to be promoted to detective back then. I was 25; I had been in the force for 2 years. I was way too young to become a detective. I'd give anything to have Booth stay with us in New York. I don't know why he had to leave."

"But you got to be detective because he left right?"

"Yeah, I stepped up to Booth's position. But, trust me; I was worried about him in that war like I'd be worried about a father. Or a brother. I'd give up my detective badge in a heartbeat if Booth got it back."

"Don't say that, Beckett. You're an awesome detective."

"My first three years in the force, I spent them looking at my mom's case. Non-stop. I practically memorized every line of it. Booth was the only one who helped me. The only one who listened to me. Which is why I demanded that he'd help me with this case."

"Is this case special somehow?"

"Some cases are just too rough, Castle. Too hard to take in. But, apparently, Booth has a new partner."

"Who?"

"Some woman, I think she's a scientist." Beckett said, pushing down the back of her seat and closing her eyes.

"Would you rather have a scientist as a partner?"

"I wouldn't want a partner that wasn't you." She said, barely awake.

Castle looked at her. "Did you just say something nice?"

"I'm a constant surprise." Beckett grinned. Castle leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks, Beckett."

Washington DC, Dulles Airport

"There she is!" Booth yelled, when seeing Beckett coming out of the luggage claim area. "Becks, you look so beautiful!"

"Booth! It's been way too long!" Booth gave her a tight hug and felt in his heart what resembled the feeling of father and daughter reconnecting.

"You're so grown-up! Detective, huh?"

"For seven years now." Beckett showed him his badge.

"God, it's been so long! How old are you now anyway?"

"Thirty-two."

"Thirty-two? Last time I saw you, you were practically a baby! Becks, this is my partner, Dr. Temperance Brennan."

"Nice meeting you, Dr. Brennan."

"Nice meeting you too, Detective Beckett."

"This is my partner, Booth. His name is Rick Castle."

"Rick Castle? I know that name from somewhere."

"Hell hath no fury? Flowers for your grave?" Brennan took a step forward and shook Castle's hand.

"Yes, exactly." He smiled.

"Why did you kill Derek Storm?"

"To create a much better character."

"Wait, you're the author of those new Nikki Heat books?" Booth asked.

"Yes, exactly!"

"I saw on TV that you based yourself on a real detective to create her. Who was it?"

Beckett raised her hand. "This girl."

"No way!"

"Way!" Booth hugged her again. "Becks, so much has changed! You're even a muse now!"

Castle giggled. "She doesn't like to be called a muse." He whispered to Brennan, who laughed too.

"So, tell me about this murder."

"We believe it was linked to the Triple Killer."

"No way."

"Way. It was a blond woman, killed with nylon strings, followed his M.O. to the letter."

"This is my fault." Castle said, looking down. "I was the one who let him go. Ryan and I."

"Castle, this isn't your fault." Beckett walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "You are not a policeman, you did more than anyone of us did. If anything, it's my fault. I wasn't there with you, I wasn't there with my gun to protect you. Look at me, Castle." He looked deeply into her eyes. "This isn't your fault."

Brennan and Booth stared at them at a few feet distance.

"You know, Bones, I think Becks and Castle are a little more than partners." He whispered into Brennan's ear.

"Yeah, but people think that about us too. All the time." Brennan whispered back.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.